Like many counties in northern and central California, Fresno County relies on a system of levees to hold back floodwaters. However, FEMA recently revised its flood maps. In Fresno County, most of the existing levees were not certified to withstand a 100-year flood event. In addition, FEMA changed a huge swatch of land from Zone X (which signifies levee protection in a 100-year flood) to Zone A - flood hazard.



The area most significantly affected by this change is mainly north of Kings River between the Fresno Slough and Highway 99; the Fresno Slough corridor; and areas between Mendota Pool and Firebaugh west of the San Joaquin River. Over 7200 homes previously considered "protected" are now designated as being in a flood plain.

No matter which city you live in including Clovis, Coalinga, Fresno, Kingsburg, and San Joaquin, flooding is inevitable. In fact, flooding occurred frequently before the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District and related flood control and urban drainage systems came into being.

Today, flood control systems consisting of a series of ponding basins, channels, and other facilities divert storm water away from both rural and urban areas. While the levees and flood control systems are in place, they aren't a guarantee against flooding as evidenced by aging levees and their failure to pass FEMA's 100-year flood certification.

So, what do you do to protect your family and home if you live in Fresno County? Disaster preparedness starts with information. Learn about the flood threats to your home, office, school, and other locations that you regularly visit. View the most current FEMA flood maps to see if your home has been re-designated as being located in a flood plain. If your home or other location is likely to be affected by floodwaters, pay attention to weather forecasts and river levels. If you live outside of the flood zone, flooding remains possible. Consider purchasing federal flood insurance because your homeowner's policy won't cover this type of water damage.

The National Weather Service offers a River Forecast Center for California and Nevada with real-time data indicating current river conditions. Charts show you exactly how high the river is currently compared to the monitor and flood stages. River and rain gauges located along key points throughout the two states help predict slow-rise and flash floods.

The state of California also provides valuable information regarding flooding on its Department of Water Resources Flood Management web page (http://www.dfm.water.ca.gov/). You'll find a wealth of information and links here to help you better understand flooding in Fresno County.

In addition to learning about the flood risk, learn about what to do before, during, and after a flood. Remaining safe is priority number one during all phases of the flood. Once the floodwaters have gone down and it's safe to return to your home, the next step is to mop up and repair the damage. You don't have to do it on your own. Let a professional water damage restoration company help you get your home back in pre-flood shape, safely and effectively.